Rhaphiolepis

( RAF - ee - oh - LIP - iss )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs needs full sun to light shade and little to regular water. Leaves are glossy and leathery, and flowers bloom profusely from late fall to late spring in colors ranging from white through red. Dark blue fruit follows blooms. New growth is commonly bronze or red. Most species are low-growing, rarely reaching more than 5-6 feet tall.

Rhaphiolepis Species and Varietals

The genus Rhaphiolepis includes 15 species and is a member of the plant family Rosaceae. Rhaphiolepis shrubs are closely related to Toyon and Loquat. Rhaphiolepis grows best in zones 8-10, 12-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Rhaphiolepis x delacourii
This is a hybrid species between Rhaphiolepis indica and Rhaphiolepis umbellata and reaches 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide. This is the most widely grown species of Rhaphiolepis. Flowers bloom in upright clusters in pink. Varieties 'Georgia Petite' (2.5 feet tall, 3.5 feet wide with pink buds that open to white flowers),  and 'Snowcap' (4 feet tall and wide, with pink buds that open to pink flowers which fade to white; foliage turns burgundy-red in wintertime) both have good disease resistance.
Rhaphiolepis indica (Indian Hawthorne)
This Chinese native reaches 4-5 feet tall and 5-6 feet wide, with pink-tinged white flowers. Varieties are more popularly grown than the species, and are listed below.
'Ballerina'
2 feet tall and 4 feet wide, with deep rose-pink flowers and reddish winter foliage.
'Clara'
3-5 feet tall and wide with white flowers and red new growth.
'Dancer'
This variety reaches 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Pink flowers.
'Eleanor Taber'
4 feet tall and 3 feet wide, with leaf-spot resistance. Foliage starts reddish, matures to green, and turns maroon in wintertime. Flowers are pink and bloom profusely.
'Indian Princess'
3 feet tall and 5 feet wide, with light pink flowers.
'Jack Evans'
4-5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Flowers are bright pink. Foliage sometimes has purple tint.
'Pink Lady'
5-6 feet tall and just as wide. Dark pink blooms.
'Springtime'
Vigorous upright growth to 4-6 feet tall and wide. Flowers are deep pink.

Rhaphiolepis 'Majestic Beauty'
Can be a single or multi-trunked tree reaching 25 feet tall and 10 feet wide but can be easily kept at 10-12 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Light pink flowers are fragrant and form in clusters up to 10 inches long.

Rhaphiolepis umbellata (Rhaphiolepis umbellata ovata, Rhaphiolepis ovata) (Yedda Hawthorn)
This species is native to Japan and Korea, with vigorous growth to 4-6 feet tall and wide. Leaves are leathery and dark green and flowers are wide. Thick and bushy growth when grown in sun. Varieties include 'Minor' (also called 'Gulf Green', a compact form to 3-4 feet tall and wide) and 'Southern Moon' (to 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide, with great disease resistance).

Caring for and pruning Rhaphiolepis shrubs

Plant your shrub in full sun to partial shade. These shrubs will produce more blossoms in full sun exposure. Well-draining soil is absolutely essential for these shrubs, and it should also be slightly acidic to neutral (with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5). Water new shrubs regularly to establish a strong root system. At maturity these shrubs are drought-tolerant, but will benefit from consistent, deep waterings during dry spells. Allow soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Apply a layer of organic mulch to the base of the shrub, taking care to not allow the mulch to touch the stems of the shrub. These shrubs do not generally require much fertilizing, but may benefit from a yearly feeding of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in springtime to support healthy growth.

Prune these shrubs to maintain their shape and size, and to remove diseased or damaged growth. Prunings are best completed during the late winter to early spring period of the year. Avoid heavy prunings during the growing season, as this will result in a loss of flowers for the year.

Propagation

Rhaphiolepis can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Rhaphiolepis by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Rhaphiolepis by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  3. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Rhaphiolepis seeds are contained within the berries produced by the shrub.
Rhaphiolepis seed.

Problems and Pests

Rhaphiolepis shrubs are generally resistant to pest and disease, but can be affected by the following garden issues:
  • Aphids
  • Scale Insects
  • Spider Mites
For information on dealing with these problems, see the following pages:
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Gallery

These shrubs respond well to being sheared.
When in bloom, these shrubs put on a real show.
Lower-growing varieties are wonderful in mixed plantings, and can hide foundations.

Videos

Tips and tricks for growing Indian Hawthorn successfully.
All about the different varieties of Hawthorn.
How to identify an Indian Hawthorn plant.
A growing guide for Rhaphiolepis shrubs.

Resources

How to Grow Indian Hawthorn Plant
How to Grow and Care for Indian Hawthorn
Rhaphiolepis indica
Wikipedia: Raphiolepis
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 554 - 555, Rhaphiolepis
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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